Avril Lavigne on 'Idol' Judging: "I Was Really Impressed by Simon"

Avril Lavigne called into Ryan Seacrest‘s KIIS radio show this morning, and the pop-punker from Canada sounded bright and cheery as she opened up about her American Idol guest judging experience, her close relationship with ex-husband Deryck Whibley, and collaborating with Tim Burton on his highly-anticipated recreation of Alice in Wonderland.

Avril will be guest judging along with fellow songstress Katy Perry tonight on Idol as the team looks for Hollywood hopefuls in their own backyard, L.A.

“I was actually really blown away by the talent of the majority of the contestants that I saw,” Avril told Ryan on his show. “I thought there was a lot of really great people who auditioned. It takes a lot of guts to go up there.”

Avril recalls the nerve-wracking feeling from her days of auditioning, which started out when she would try out for school plays.

“I’m definitely a very shy person and introverted,” she said comparing herself to the contestants who auditioned for a golden ticket. “Some people are a little over the top, and then sometimes when they were dismissed their behavior was so bizarre and strange and they didn’t want to leave and I found it awkward.”

As far as the other judges, Avril enjoyed Simon Cowell‘s company, despite his reputation as a tyrant.

“I was really impressed with Simon, because he would rap it up so perfectly,” she said. “I didn’t think he was mean, I think he is smart. It was fun to be there and I was hoping I could give good advice.”

Avril also opened up about her ex-husband, Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley, who she split from last fall.

“He is one of my best friends. We worked really well together and we stayed in touch, and I think we are really lucky. We are family and we have a connection.

Avril’s new album explores how her life as evolved, post divorce.

“I’ve been writing this album for a while now, a lot of the songs are really personal to me and very honest and I actually produced on this album,” she said.

Avril and Deryck collaborated on on her song “Alice,” which will be featured on the soundtrack of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, hitting theaters in March.

Avril was working with the Disney offices on a exclusive clothing collection, from her line Abbey Dawn at Khol’s, geared toward the film.

She said she happened to run into Tim and told him she was recording, and he asked her to write something up.

“I wrote the song immediately because I was so inspired because I was designing for the movie so I had the image in my mind,” she said. “I played the song for Tim, and he loved it. It was all because I was designing the clothing.”

“I’m super honored to be part of the project.”

Looks like 2010 promises to be a big year for the star. She will be wearing an Abbey Dawn hoodie tonight in the Idol judging chair.

“Alice” hits the radio Feb. 1, and “it talks about tripping out, spinning around, I’m on the ground, I fall down,” Avril said.

Her new album is set for a June release.

“I just did my photo shoot for my album cover. Its my fourth record and to kick it off with the sound I did for Alice In Wonderland makes it more exciting.”

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